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Last Gasp

Featured on July 12, 2014

This false-color image shows the last gasp of a dying star. Known as M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, it is a giant cloud of gas expelled at the end of a star's life. The nebula spans more than one light-year, and will slowly fade from sight as it continues to expand in the coming millennia. It was discovered 250 years ago by Charles Messier. [George Jacoby (WIYN/NSF)]